Ruta stood at the heart of the kingdom's central plaza. With a cold motion, she summoned a massive platform of ice that burst from the ground, lifting her high above the gathered crowd. At the same time, her soldiers dragged the elves from their homes, forcing them to assemble in the square to hear the speech she was about to deliver.
The elves gathered with terror gnawing at their hearts. Misery and unmistakable fear were written across their faces as they wondered what fate awaited them. The psychological scars left by the Red Knight were still fresh in their souls, wounds that had yet to heal.
Amid the tense silence, Ruta stood atop her pillar of ice, looking down at them with eyes as cold as winter itself.
Then the plaza fell into absolute silence as her voice broke through the stillness, amplified by a mana-infused construct of ice.
"Greetings, people of the elves. Today is the most important day of your lives. It is the day of great change. As all of you already know, your kingdom has fallen under the control of the great ruler Kaizen, the lord of the Demon Rift Empire."
A wave of uneasy whispers spread through the crowd—trembling questions about what was truly happening and about the fate of the Silver Axe team and the soldiers they had trusted with their lives.
Ruta cut through their murmuring with a firm tone.
"Give me your attention… I am not finished speaking yet. As for the trio who once protected your kingdom—the ones you call the Silver Axe—they have all been crushed by Ruler Kaizen, along with the rest of your army. From this moment on, there is no one left to protect you but us. You are now under our rule, and starting today, I am your queen… Ruta."
Despair spread through the crowd.
"Impossible… Is this truly our end? Are we going to be enslaved by these monsters?"
A mysterious smile formed on Ruta's lips.
"Unfortunately, everything running through your minds right now is completely wrong. The supreme ruler Kaizen has decided to support your kingdom and ensure your return to a normal life. He will fully restore the kingdom and provide all the basic necessities you lack. I will guarantee your safety, and we will strengthen your army so it becomes capable of repelling any invader.
"As for the most important news—the Red Knight who attacked you before—Ruler Kaizen himself will deal with him instead of your cowardly ruler, Azral Sul.
"In return, we ask for only one thing: your complete loyalty to Ruler Kaizen and that you prove yourselves useful to him.
"That is all.
"Those who agree, raise your hands. Those who refuse will be expelled from the kingdom immediately."
Whispers swept across the plaza once again. Slowly, hands began to rise.
A small group refused, but they remained a minority. The overwhelming majority accepted. To them, this offer meant survival and the possibility of stability—far better than living in constant fear and misery.
As for the few who rejected it, they believed accepting the occupation would dishonor the memory of their dead king, who had been crushed by the Red Knight.
Ruta smiled to herself.
"Everything is going exactly as my great master Kaizen planned. Once the elves' loyalty is secured, he will be able to extend his control over the other kingdoms… And for now, I am the absolute ruler here."
The fall of the Elven Kingdom rang like a thunderous warning bell across the world. Neighboring empires began raising their level of alert, preparing for the possibility of war—especially the Empire of Frost Shadows.
Meanwhile, the Blue Sapphire Kingdom was experiencing events of a different kind.
Inside the dark throne room of the kingdom, the demon girl who had seized control of the Blue Sapphire Kingdom stood silently, facing the figure before her.
Her voice was cold.
"So… what brings you here, Lord Kaizen? Has something happened?"
Kaizen's voice was deep and sinister.
"We are approaching our goal. I hope you are prepared."
She smiled faintly.
"Of course, Lord Kaizen. You know very well that I am ready at any time. I will never disappoint him… My soul and my life belong to him."
Far from the Blue Sapphire Kingdom, the headquarters of the Black Spear was shrouded in a completely different atmosphere.
Despair and grief weighed heavily upon everyone there. The loss had not been minor. The team had lost two essential pillars of its elite fighters—Natalia and Elara.
In the training yard, Jaxon and Melina relentlessly exchanged brutal blows, their weapons clashing again and again. It was as if they were trying to release every ounce of their suppressed anger and helplessness through each violent strike.
From an upper balcony, Nico Sigmund and Akaria watched the training in silence. Their gazes were distant, burdened with thoughts about what would come next. Kaizen was now closer than ever, and any reckless move could push him to invade the remaining kingdoms without resistance.
The situation was complicated. None of the choices before them were pleasant.
Akaria finally broke the silence, regret written across her face.
"I feel the bitterness of regret gnawing at me, Nico… Perhaps I should have faced that monster Kaizen instead of surrendering without a fight. It is the greatest humiliation I have ever endured."
Nico replied calmly.
"That is your emotional perspective, Akaria. From a rational point of view, it was the wisest decision."
He paused before continuing.
"Let's be realistic. Facing Kaizen at that moment would have been a death sentence for all of us. What kind of fool throws his army into a war against a being capable of erasing entire armies in the blink of an eye? Despair, grief, and hatred are nothing more than fuel for quick suicide."
He fell silent briefly before speaking again.
"The power of that entity exists on a completely different level. I believe we've confirmed that by now. I'll be honest with you… extremely powerful figures have begun awakening from the Dark Age."
He looked directly at her.
"You and I both know that I may be one of them. That fact cannot be denied. But the second—and harsher—truth is that there are others far stronger than me."
Nico continued listing the threats.
"At the moment, we are dealing with three individuals of the Dark Tier. Kaizen, the ruler of the Demon Rift Empire. The demon girl who has taken control of the Blue Sapphire Kingdom—information about her remains unclear. And the third…"
Akaria interrupted him grimly.
"The third is the true catastrophe that has appeared in this world… the Red Knight. The one who destroyed the Elven Kingdom and triggered this alarming global tension."
Nico nodded slowly.
"You're right. The situation has become catastrophic. The emergence of these terrifying beings threatens to shatter the balance of power across the world. That's why we must set aside our grief and prepare for the worst."
He then outlined his plan.
"As for Natalia and Elara, I will do everything I can to retrieve them as soon as possible without causing major complications. As for you, your role is even more important."
He glanced toward the training field.
"You must take control of the situation here and push the training to its limits—especially for Jaxon and Melina. This time, war will show no mercy. The strong will dominate, and the weak will be crushed."
Akaria met his gaze with determination.
"You can rely on me, Nico. I trust your judgment."
Nico turned to leave.
"Good. I'll leave things here in your hands. I have urgent business that requires my presence."
Akaria watched him depart before turning her attention back to the training yard.
Thoughts collided within her mind.
*We need new blood… heroes who can fill the gap.*
An idea flashed through her thoughts.
"I'll go to the university and meet Suzuna Hikari. Perhaps I can find someone capable of temporarily filling Natalia and Elara's roles."
Her eyes narrowed.
"I'll take Zorua with me."
She hesitated briefly.
"I'll go tomorrow… No."
Her expression hardened.
"I'll move now. Time is too precious to waste waiting."
Not long after, Akaria arrived at the university.
Inside Professor Suzuna Hikari's office, Akaria sat calmly across from her while both women held cups of coffee.
Akaria spoke with a gentle smile.
"So, how are things going with your students? Have their abilities improved, or are they still in the early stages of learning?"
Suzuna returned the smile.
"From the way you're asking, General Akaria, I assume you're here to recruit a few of my students, aren't you?"
Akaria chuckled softly.
"First of all, there's no need to call me 'General.' Just call me Akaria. I'd rather we keep things informal between us."
She took a sip of coffee.
"And yes, you're right. I came hoping to find one or two promising individuals from your class. Fresh talent would be valuable right now."
Suzuna sighed quietly.
"What can I tell you, Akaria? Ever since the incident at the university, most of the students have withdrawn."
She leaned back slightly.
"Some chose to become adventurers. Others stayed with their families to help or protect them. You know what the world is going through right now… studying no longer seems important to many of them."
Akaria nodded.
"You're right. We really are in a difficult situation, especially since we lost two members of our elite forces… the two elves."
Suzuna's expression softened.
"You mean Elara and Natalia?"
"Yes," Akaria replied. "They are now under the rule of Ruler Kaizen since they belong to the Elven Kingdom he currently controls."
Suzuna spoke reassuringly.
"Don't worry too much. The important thing is that they're alive. I'm sure you'll bring them back soon."
Akaria nodded.
"That's what we're trying to do. I believe Nico has already begun moving to retrieve them."
Suzuna blinked in surprise.
"Wait… do you mean Nico Sigmund?"
"Of course," Akaria said. "Who else? I can't believe I'm saying this, but thanks to him the Black Spear still exists and continues to fight."
She paused before adding quietly.
"He's not normal… he's practically a miracle."
Suzuna nodded thoughtfully.
"I realized that from the beginning. He was never an ordinary student. He truly represents a miracle of this era."
She gazed toward the window.
"It reminds me of the Dark Age… the era that reshaped the world."
Akaria exhaled softly.
"I don't want to surprise you, but Nico truly belongs to that Dark Age. We discussed it before he joined us."
She folded her arms.
"He doesn't hide his identity because even he doesn't fully understand it. He tries to avoid causing future complications—especially with King Azral and his strict advisors."
Akaria lowered her gaze to the cup in her hand.
"And in any case… it seems I might lose my position soon because of everything that's happening."
[End of Chapter 48]